Dispensing carton



Feb. 24, 1948. R. DE 5. COUCH arm. 2,436,553

DI SPENS ING CARTON Filed March 29, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ RoberYc/eJ'. Couch Patented Feb. 24, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING CARTON Robert de S. Couch and Earl C. Potter, Chicago,

and Edgerton A. Throckmorton, Dundee, 111.; said Potter and said Throckmorton assignors to Container Corporation of America,

Chicago,

9 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to paper cartons and more particularly to a slide-box carton which is fabricated from blanks of suitable material folded to form a sleeve and a compartmented inner member, slidably receivable in the sleeve, for separably containing diiierent kinds of commodities with dispensing means for each of the compartments to permit dispensation from a selected compartment while maintaining the other sealed.

Dispensing cartons formed by folding blanks of suitable material have been used in packaging a large variety of commodities, but most of these cartons are designed to contain and dispense a particular commodity or type of commodity and are not suitable for packaging other types of commodities, particularly when two or more commodities are to be separably contained in a single carton and it is desired to dispense from a single compartment only and simultaneously prevent dispensation from the other compartments,

The need for such a carton arose after it was found that the use of a supplemental ration consisting of different kinds of candies such as chocolate bars and gum drops, or candies similar to gum drops, by the flying personnel of the Air Corps when absent from their base on missions of more than 3 or 4 hours duration tends to relieve battle fatigue and tension and as a result greatly reduces the number of accidents occurring on return trips or in the landing of aircraft. Cartons of the prior art are not suitable for packaging these rations because none of them meet all of the requirements and yet are inexpensive enough to be manufactured in the large quantities required for this type of use. To be adaptable for use by the armed forces, it is necessary 2 changes in construction. By making these slight changes, asuitable package may be constructed for relatively small articles of all kinds which are to be selectively dispensed such as vitamin tablets or bandages. It is, therefore, an object of our invention to provide a new and improved dispensing carton of the slide-box type which has a compartmented inner member for separabiy containing diiferent commodities and is provided with dispensing means for each of the compartments, permitting dispensation from a selected compartment only while maintaining the others sealed.

that the ration be packed in a small container so that it can be carried in the pocket of a uniform, the container must be of sturdy construction so that it will not be crushed easily, it must be So constructed that the two types of candies can be separably contained therein and selectively dispensed therefrom, and it must be readily openable to dispensing position so that the carton can be opened by an air-crewman even though he is wearing the heavy flying gloves ordinarily worn while in the air. V

The carton described and claimed herein has all of these desirable features, but it will be obvious that its use is not limited to the packaging of supplemental rations because it is so constructed that the dispensing means may be easily modified to permit dispensation of materials other than the candles described with but few Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved dispensing carton of the slide-box type having a compartmented tubular inner member with individual dispensing openings for each of the compartments therein which are moved to dispensing position by sliding the inner member in onedirection or the other in the sleeve so that at any one time only one opening will be in dispensing position, and the other will remain sealed by the sleeve.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved dispensing carton of the slide-box type in which a, compartmented slide member with individual dispensing openings for each of the compartments is receivable in a sleeve in such relation therewith that the dispensing openings for the compartments are sealed by a wall of the sleeve when the slide member is centered in the sleeve, this wall being provided with edges which are conformed to register with a portion of the edge of the dispensing openings when the slide member is moved to dispensing position in the sleeve. i

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved dispensing carton of the slide-box type having a compartmented 'slide member for separably containing different kinds of commodities and dispensing openings individual to each of these compartments each conformed to facilitate dispensation therethrough of the particular commodity contained in the compartment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved dispensing carton consisting of a slide member and a sleeve which has certain edges conformed to facilitate access to the slide member when it is desired to move the slide member to dispensing position in the sleeve.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved dispensing carton which is simple and durable in construction, in-

' the ends of the slide member.

expensive to manufacture and adaptableto mass production, yet wholly suitable for use.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a blank scored so that it can be folded to form a novel compartmented inner slide member and provided with a dispensing opening for each compartment in the plane of one of In the drawings in which similar characters of 3 reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a developed view of a. blank for making the sleeve of our. improved carton.

Figure 2 is a developed view of a blank for 7 "making the slide member of our carton.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of our carton in assembled relation showing the slide member partly removed from the sleeve to permit dispensing of the contents of one of the compartments. v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the dispensing end of the slide member showini, the apertured flap and hinged wing which overlie this end of the slide.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the end of the slide member opposite from that shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical section through the transverse center-line of the slide and sleeve.

In making up our carton, a, sleeve blank having the configuration shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, and provided with score lines indicated by the double lines H, is made from box-board or other suitable carton material and is folded on the score lines H to form the assembled sleeve. These lines divide the blank into a series of panels which in the assembled sleeve form top and bottom walls l2 and I3 respectively, and walls it and l5 of equal widths and a tab l8 which is glued to the end wall If: in the assembled sleeve H, as shown in Figure 3. The slide member is also made from a single blank |8 of suitable material having the configuration shown in Figure 2 and scored as indicated by the double lines It? to facilitate folding of the blank and dividing it into a series of panels. When the blank is folded to assembled form, these panels form a main bottom wall 20, side walls 2| and 22, a panel 23 integral with the side wall 2| and forming the top for one of the compartments in the slide member, a partition 24 integral with the panel 23 for dividing the slide member into two compartments 25 and 26, and a tab 21 integral with the partition for gluing to the inner surface of the main wall 20 to hold the partition in place as most clearly shown in.Figures 4 and 6. The top wall for the second compartment is formed by a panel 28 integral with the side wall 22 and provided with an extended portion which is glued to the panel 23 as indicated at 29 in Figures 4 and 5. so as to make the top wall coextensive with bottom wall 20.

The partition 24 and side walls 2| and 22 are provided with relatively long end or dust flaps 30, those on the side walls being folded inwardly and overlying a portion of the lower open ends of the adjacent compartments 25 and 25 while the flap on the partition is folded inwardly over compartment 26 and overlies the portion of the open end of this compartment which is not covered by the flap on the side wall. The upper end of the partition 24 and side wall 22 are provided with relatively short dust flaps 3| folded inwardly to cover a portion of the open upper end of compartment 26. The lower open ends of the compartments are closed by a closing fiap 32 integral with the lower edge of the main wall 20 of the slide member and provided with a locking tab 33 slotted as indicated at 34. A slot 35 is also provided along the fold line between the partition 24 and the panel 23 as indicated in Figures 2 and 5. When the locking tab 33 is tucked into the end of the slide member, slots 34 and 35 register with each other and permit the ends of the locking tab 33 to extend into the compartments to hold the flap 32 in position over the lower ends of these compartments.

The upper end of the main wall 20 is provided with an integral flap 36 of sufiicient width to cover the upper open'end of compartment 26. An aperture 31, of size and configuration suitable to permit discharge therethrough 0f the ccmmodity contained in compartment 26, is provided in the flap 36, that shown in the drawings being circu- 1911', but it may be of any other configuration depending upon the shape of the commodity contained in the compartment 26 so that discharge of commodity from this aperture is not impeded.

Flap 36 is held in position over the end of compartment 26 by an integral locking tab 38 which is tucked into compartment 26 when the flap is in closed position. Extending laterally from the inner edge of the flap 36 is a wing 39 which is hinged along a light score line 40 defining this edge. Wing 39 extends over the open upper end of compartment 25 when the flap 36 is in closed position and may be swung back on the score line 40 as indicated in Figure 3 to permit outward passage of the contents of the compartment 25.

When the carton is used to contain a supplemental ration for flying personnel or other members of the armed forces, compartment 26 is filled with an assortment of gum drops or small hard candies of similar size and shape, and one or more flat rectangular shaped chocolate bars are inserted in compartment 25. After the compartments have been filled and the flaps 32 and 36 have both been closed, the slide member is inscrted in the sleeve as shown in Figure 3 with the end walls l4 and I5 of the sleeve overlying the flaps 32 and 36 and locking them in position. If it is known or expected that the crew members of a plane or group of planes about to leave on a mission are to be gone for 3 to 4 hours or longer, then one of these rations is issued to each crew member to be used on the return trip, or whenever a feeling of hunger is perceived. One desiring a chocolate bar from the carton can secure thesame by merely pushing the slide member outwardly in the sleeve ll until the wing 39 is exposed as indicated ln Figure 3, and the bars may be shaken partly out of the compartment and then withdrawn by hand. If the other type of candy is desired, the slide member is moved in a direction opposite to that shown in Figure 3 until the aperture 31 in the flap 36 is exposed, whereupon the candy may be shaken from the compartment 26 into the palm of the hand.

To facilitate removal of candies from compar ment 26 and reduce the extent to which the slide member must be moved in the sleeve H, the edge of the end wall M of the sleeve is configured to indicated at M in Figures 1 and 3. The opposite edge of the end wall i4 is straight and this 'ed-ge overlies the score line 40 when the slide member is in position for dispensing chocolate bars as shown in Figure 3. At the same time, the apertured flap 36 is overlaid by a portion of the end wall I 4 so that the candies in compartment 26 cannot escape.

interior partition wall disposed in a plane normal to the direction of slide of said slide member,

v said partition wall being of the same width as said first-mentioned walls and dividing said slide member into a plurality of compartments, said partition wall having an open slotted portion ad- From the above description, it will be apparent that the carton.can be made small enough to be carried in the pocket, and being formed as a slide member and sleeve-is sturdy and durable enough to withstand crushing when so carried. Additional strength is given to the slide member by the partition which not only divides the slide into compartments but also forms a support tending toprevent crushing of the slide. Another important advantage of this carton, particularly when it is used for containing supplemental rations, is the ease with which it may be opened even though heavy flying gloves are being worn. In opening the carton, the sleeve l! is held by its sides in one hand, and the slide memher is pushed out through the sleeve the distance required to uncover the desired dispensing aperture by merely pushing against the side wall of the slide near its center with a finger or the edge of the hand until the slide has been moved a sufiicient distance. To facilitate this operation, and permit easy access to the side Walls of the slide, the edges of the top and bottom walls of the sleeve are of generally concave contour as indicated at 42 in Figures 1 and 3 so that the slide member may be pushed with the edge of the hand.

In order to adapt the carton for packaging of other commodities, it is merely necessary to alter its size or the size of the compartments to accommodate the commodity being packaged and change the configuration of the discharge apertures in such a way that the commodity contained in the compartments may be readily removed therefrom. For example, where small candies or other commodities of the same general size and configuration but of two different kinds are to be separately contained in the two compartments of the slide member, then the open upper end of the slide can be closed by a single flap integral with the main wall of the slide and provided with two apertures similar to the apertures 31 in the flap 36 of the modification described. 'In such a case each of the edges of the end wall I4 is curved similar to the edge t I It will, of course,

be obvious that if desired these apertures can be placed in the top or bottom wall of slide member instead of the closing flap. As another modiflcation, individual closing flaps may be provided for each compartment instead of the apertured flap and wing, and these flaps would be locked in closed position by the wall l4 of the sleeve. Thus, while we have described an embodiment of the invention particularly adaptable for pa c'kaging rations of the kind described, itis to be understood that we do not desire to limit? the invention to the specific embodiment shown and jacent one of said,first-mentioned walls, end closures integral with said slide member for closing the open ends th of, one of said closures including dispensing means for each of said compartments to permit emptyingof the contents thereof, said closures being locked in closed position and said means being sealed to prevent emptying of the contents of said slide member when the latter is in centered position in sahi sleeve, and means-integral with one of said closures receivablein said slotted portion of said partition wall and extending into said compartments, said slide member being optionally slidable in opposite directions in said sleeve to alternate dispensing positions for moving the dispensing means individually out of engagement with said sleeve to permit dispensation from a selected compartment only and\ simultaneously prevent dispensation from the others.

2. A dispensing carton comprising a single blankfolded to form an open-ended slide member compartmented for separablyxcontaining different commodities in separate compartments, a flap integral with one end of said slidez ember, said flap forming an end wall for closing one end of said compartments, a closure for the other end of said compartments, said closure including a plurality of dispensing means adapted to permit dispensation of-the contents of each of said compartments therefrom, a sleeve receivable over said slide member, said sleeve being folded from a single blank and having side walls engaging over said end wall and closure when said slide member is in centered position in said sleeve for locking said end wall and closure and sealing said dispensing means, said slide member being optionally movable in opposite directions in said sleeve to alternate dispensing positions for disengaging one or the other of said dispensing means from said sleeve to permit dispensation from a single compartment only and simultaneously prevent dispensation from the other.

3. A dispensing carton comprising a single blank folded to form an open-ended, compartmented slide member for separably containing different commodities in separate compartments,

. a closing fiap integral with one end of said slide described, but desire to include therein all of the structures defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a folded dispensing carton of the slidebox type, an open-sided sleeve, a compartmented open-ended slide member slidably receivable in said sleeve through the open sides thereof, said slide member comprising a pair of spaced coextensive walls, a pair of side walls, at least one member for closing one end of said compartments, an integral apertured flap on the other end of said slide member foldable over the other open end of one of said compartments, a hinged wing extending laterally from said apertured flap and overlying the open end of the other of said compartments, said apertured flap and wing being adapted to permit dispensation of the contents ofsaid compartments therethrough, a sleeve v folded from (a single blank and adapted to be received over said slide member, said sleeve having end walls engaging over said closing flap, apertured flap and wing for sealing said aperture and lockingsaid flaps and wing to prevent dispensation of the contents of said compartments when said slide member isin centered position in said sleeve, said slide member being adapted to be moved in opposite directions in said sleeve to alternate positions ,for selectively disengaging either said aperture 'or said wing from said sleeve to permit dispensation from a single compartment and prevent dispensation from the other.

4. A dispensing carton comprising a slide member folded from a single blank to form a container having top and bottom walls connected by side walls and a partition dividing said slide member into parallel open-ended compartments for separably containing different commodities in separate compartments, an integral closing flap on one end of said slide member for closing one of the open ends of said compartments, an apertured flap on the other end of said slide member foldable over the other open end of one of said compartments, a hinged wing extending laterally from said apertured flap and overlying the other open end of the second of said compartments, said apertured flap and wing being adapted to permit dispensation of the contents of said oompartments therethrough, a sleeve folded from a single blank to provide top and bottom walls connected by end walls and having open sides, said sleeve being receivable over said slide member with one of said end walls engaging over said apertured flap and wing and the other of said end walls engaging over said closing flap for sealing said aperture and locking said flaps and wing in closed position when said slide member is in position in said sleeve, said slide member being adapted to be moved in opposite directions in said sleeve to alternate positions for selectively disengaging either said aperture or said wing from said sleeve to permit dispensation from a single compartment and prevent dispensation from the other.

5. A dispensing carton comprising a slide member folded from a single blank to form a container having top and bottom walls connected by side walls and a partition dividing said slide member into parallel open-ended compartments for separably containing difierent commodities in separate compartments, an integral closing flap on one .end of said slide member for closing one of the open ends of said compartments, an apertured flap on the other end of said slide member foldable over the other open end of one of said compartments, a hinged wing extending laterally from said apertured flap and overlying the other open end of the second of said compartments, said apertured flap and wing being adapted to permit dispensation of the contents of said compartments therethrough, a sleeve folded from a single blank to provide top and bottom walls connected by end walls and having open sides, said sleeve being receivable over said slide member with one of said end walls engaging over said apertured flap and wing and the otheroi said end walls engaging over said closing flap for sealing said aperture and locking said flaps and wing in closed position when said slide member is in position in said sleeve, said slide member being adapted to be moved in opposite directions in said sleeve to alternate positions for selectively disengaging either said aperture or said wing from said sleeve to permit dispensation from a single compartment and prevent dispensation from the other, said end wall of said sleeve engaging over said apertured flap having its opposite ends conformed to register respectively with the edge of said aperture and the hinged edge of said wing.

6. A dispensing carton comprising a slide member folded irom a single blank to form a container having top and bottom walls connected by side walls and a partition dividing said slide member into parallel open-ended compartments for sep- .arably containing difierent commodities in separate compartments, an integral closing flap on one end of said slide member for closing one of the open ends of said compartments, an apertured flap on the other end of said slide member foldable over the other open end of one of said compartments, a hinged wing extending laterally from said apertured flap and overlying the other open end of the second of said compartments, said apertured flap and wing being adapted to permit dispensation of the contents of said compartments therethrough, a sleeve folded from a single blank to provide top and bottom walls connected by end walls and having open sides, said sleeve being receivable over said slide member with one of said end walls engaging over said apertured flap and wing and the other of said end walls engaging over said closing flap for sealing said aperture and locking said flaps and wing in closed position when said slide member is in position in said sleeve, said slide member being adapted to be moved in opposite directions in said sleeve to alternate positions for selectively disengaging either said aperture or said wing from said sleeve to permit dispensation from a single compartment and preventdispensation from the other, said top and bottom walls of said sleeve being conformed to expose a portion of the sides of said slide member to facilitate access to said sides for contacting the same to move the slide member to a dispensing position. v

'1. A dispensing carton comprising a slide member folded from a single blank to form a container having a bottom wall, side walls and a top formed from extensions of said side walls secured together along. an overlapping portion and a partition formed from an extension of one portion of said top walls, said partition dividing said slide member into parallel open-ended compartments for separately containing different comrnodities, a flap on one end of said bottom wall for closing one of the open ends of said compart ments, a closure on the other end of said bottom wall foldable over the other open end of said compartments, said closure having an aperture communicating with one of said compartments and a hinged wing extending over the open end of the other compartment, said aperture and wing being adapted to permit dispensation of the contents of said compartments therethrough, a sleeve formed from a single blank folded to provide top, bottom and end Walls and having open sides, said sleeve being receivable over said slide member with one of said end walls engaging over said closing flap and the other of said end walls engaging over said closure for locking said flaps and wing in closed position and sealing said aperture when said slide member is in position in said sleeve, said slide member being adapted to be moved in opposite directions in said sleeve to alternate positions for selectively disengaging either said aperture or said wing from said sleeve to permit dispensation from a single compartment and prevent dispensation from the other.

8. A dispensing carton comprising a single blank folded to form an open-ended slide member compartmented for separably containing diiierent commodities in separate compartments, a flap integral with one end of said slide member for closing one end of said compartments, a closure for the other end of said compartments having an aperture communicating with one of said compartments and a hinged wing extending over the other of said compartments, a sleeve formed from a single blank folded to provide top and bottom walls connected by end walls and having open sides, said sleeve being receivable over said slide member and slidable in opposite directions thereon, said end walls on said sleeve engaging over the ends of said slide member for locking said closing flap, closure and wing in closed position and sealing said aperture when said slide member is in position in said sleeve. said slide member being optionally slidable in opposite directions in said sleeve to alternate dispensing positions for selectively disengaging said aperture or said wing from said sleeve to permit dispensation from a selected compartment only and prevent dispensation from the other, said end wall overlying said closure having opposite edges conformed respectively to register with the edge of said aperture and the hinged edge of said wing, said top and bottom walls of said sleeve being conformed to expose a portion of the sides of said slide member to facilitate access to said sides for contacting the same to move the slide member to a dispensing position.

9. In a folded dispensing carton of the slidebox type, an open-sided sleeve having a top wall, a bottom wall, two end walls and two open sides, a compartmented inner slide member slidably receivable in said sleeve through the open sides thereof, at least one partition wall interiorly of and integral with said inner slide member and dividing said inner member into a plurality of compartments, said compartments in said mem ber each being sealed by an end wall of said sleeve when said inner slide member is in center position in said sleeve, inwardly receding edges bounding said top wall and bottom wall of said sleeve, said inner slide member being optionally slidable into susbtantial register with said inwardly receding edges in said sleeve to a plurality of positions for moving said compartments individually out of engagement with said sleeve to permit dispensation from a selected compartment only and simultaneously prevent dispensation from the others.

. ROBERT DE S. COUCH.

EARL c. POTTER. EDGERTON A. THROCKMORTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

